COLUMBUS (TDB) -- The ballots started going out to absentee voters in Ohio five days ago. And six presidential candidates who say they aren't running any longer still are shown as having their names in the race, as the link to the Secretary of State's office shows. Official explanations from elections officials vary: The six suspended campaigning too late to be removed from the March 4 ballot, or they didn't legally withdraw. Inquiring minds are wondering: Might the presence of these non-active candidates affect the outcome in close races? If Edwards gets some 5,000 votes statewide, does he impact Clinton v. Obama?
In the March 4 Democratic primary, voters will see the names of:
- Barack Obama
- John Edwards (out of race)
- Dennis Kucinich (out of race)
- Hillary Clinton
Republicans will find:
- Fred Thompson (out)
- Mitt Romney (out)
- Ron Paul
- John McCain
- Rudy Giuliani (out)
- Mike Huckabee
